Virginia Standards of Quality
News & Announcements
October 22, 2009–Final Report –Review of the Standards of Quality (PDF) (Approved by the Virginia Board of Education on October 22, 2009)
The Constitution of Virginia requires the Board of Education to prescribe standards of quality for the public schools of Virginia, subject to revision only by the General Assembly. These standards are known as the Standards of Quality (SOQ) and form part of the Code of Virginia. The Code requires the board to review the SOQ every two years.
2009 Standards of Quality
- Code of Virginia Standards of Quality (Effective July 1, 2009)
- July 10, 2009 (Superintendent's Memorandum) – Transmittal of the 2009 Standards of Quality.
Standards of Quality Review
The 2009 General Assembly added language to Item 140 of the Appropriation Act requiring the Board of Education to review the SOQ and submit a report by November 1, 2009. Specifically, Item 140 states:
“The Board of Education shall review the current Standards of Quality to evaluate the appropriateness of the existing staffing standards for instructional positions and the appropriateness of establishing ratio standards for support positions, with the objective of maximizing resources devoted to the instructional program. The findings of this review, its associated costs, and its final recommendations for rebenchmarking shall be submitted to the Governor, the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding established pursuant to Item 1, paragraph H. of this Act no later than November 1, 2009.
Public Comment Information
The Board of Education held four public hearings on September 30, 2009 and received comment on the Standards of Quality. A summary of all public comment received during the two public comment periods opened in 2009 is contained in the appendices to the final report dated October 22, 2009.
Review Process Resources
- October 22, 2009 – Final Report – Review of the Standards of Quality (PDF) (Approved by the Virginia Board of Education on October 22, 2009).
- September 17, 2009 - Options for Board Consideration:
- September 16, 2009 - Final Report from Augenblick, Palaich and Associates Inc. on the Virginia Standards of Quality (PDF)
- September 16, 2009 (Powerpoint Presentation) – Summary of School Division Survey Results.
- July 22, 2009 - Preliminary Report from Augenblick, Palaich and Associates Inc. on the Virginia Standards of Quality (PDF)
- July 22, 2009 - 2010-2012 Rebenchmarking Presentation to the Board (with appendices) (PDF)
- April 30, 2009 – adopted by the Board of Education – Plan for the 2009 Review of the Standards of Quality (PDF)
- April 29, 2009 – Materials from the April Standards of Quality meeting: